Rapaura is a locality northwest of Blenheim, New Zealand. The Wairau River flows past to the north. Spring Creek lies to the east.^[1][2]

Rapaura consists of a church and a school. It also has high quality land for growing grapes.

Rapaura is in the Lower Wairau statistical area, which covers 116.67 km² (45.05 sq mi).^[3] Lower Wairau had an estimated population of 1,270 as of June 2023,^[4] with a population density of 10.9 people per km².

Lower Wairau had a population of 1,212 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 45 people (3.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (3.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 456 households, comprising 633 males and 576 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 48.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 213 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 144 (11.9%) aged 15 to 29, 621 (51.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 234 (19.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.1% European/Pākehā, 10.4% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 2.5% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.4% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 195 (19.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 141 (14.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $43,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 270 people (27.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 576 (57.7%) people were employed full-time, 171 (17.1%) were part-time, and 15 (1.5%) were unemployed.^[5]

Rapaura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 112 students (as of February 2024).^[6][7] The school opened in 1862.^[8]